One of the most important (and difficult) parts of transitioning to adulthood is learning to take care of yourself. You graduate, you move out, you get the job, and somewhere down the line you realize that you are suddenly the only person responsible for your health.

Part of taking care of yourself is making time for self-care, which means taking care of your body, mind, and soul, which means managing your stress and identifying any larger problems that you may not be address on your own, like a chronic illness or mental illness. But, when our schedules are jam-packed with 50 hour work weeks, classes, commutes, errands, chores, family, and social lives, making time for yourself can feel impossible.

One small thing you can do to help center yourself throughout the day and remind yourself to practice self-care is to adopt a mantra – a phrase or sentence that you repeat to yourself for inspiration or motivation.

Your mantra could reflect your goals for your professional life, or it could be a reminder that no matter how you feel right now, you’re going to be okay. I have an alert set on my phone with my mantra; when it goes off, I use that to think about how I’m doing and what I need to do to take care of myself.

The following mantras are perfect for the busy, badass woman in the workplace, especially those of use who are just starting out and learning how to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives.

1.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

I love this quote from writer Anais Nin as a mantra for reminding yourself to continue to grow and take risks. Sometimes we feel the most unbalanced when we feel stuck or unchallenged, and the best way to care for yourself in these times is to explore and find the things that recharge you, even if they’re out of your comfort zone. If you often feel stuck or afraid to take those important risks in life, this mantra is for you.

2.

“Sometimes you gotta work a little so you can ball a lot.” – Parks and Recreation

For all my ladies on their grinds and working their hustles, this is for you! This mantra is great for werking ladies because it helps to remind you to strike that super-important work-life balance. Your work can, and should, make you happy, but focusing on just your worklife alone is not enough to keep you happy in the long run.

3.

This quote from Margaret Atwood‘s novel The Handmaid’s Taleis a great mantra for reminding yourself that the opinions of others do not define who you are. It’s important to care about the people around you and put your best foot forward in the world, but there will be people who don’t like you no matter what. Don’t focus on trying to make everyone happy; focus on making yourself happy. And, in the meantime, don’t let the haters bring you down.

4.

“Wake up every morning and tell yourself that you’re a badass bitch from hell and that no can f_ck with you. And then, don’t let anyone f_ck with you.” – Kate Nash

I love this quote from singer and songwriter Kate Nash. As a mantra, it asserts that you are a powerful being and you are in control of your destiny, but also that you shouldn’t let others affect how you see yourself or your path in life if you don’t want them to. And, it’s full of profanity! Whee!

5.

And sometimes, the smallest and simplest mantras are the best. You are enough – you are enough as you are right now, you are enough as you will be in the future, you are enough even if you’re trying to change to make yourself happier. If you’re feeling small or scared or insecure, this mantra can give you so, so much power.

What do you think?

Do you have a mantra? What do you do to take care of yourself? Do you have any questions or need advice about adulting? Let me know in the comments below!